Painting an Inside Door

[Brill Weave]

Wife is a huge fan of Doctor Who. So for part of her Christmas present I'm going to paint the door to the sun room(her favorite room) the color of Tardis(Baer Sapphire Blue in case you're wondering.) I also have decals to apply so in the end it will look like the entrance to the Tardis.

The door has staining on it but I don't think it has any varnish. It's a very light stain. Am I safe to apply a coat of primer and then paint? Or should I take the time to sand the surface of the door and then proceed with the painting?

[Ghost_Wheel22]

You want to clean and sand so you get both the true paint colour and so it goes on evenly. The difference between a good looking and long lasting paint job and a 3rd-grader project is prep.

[Brill Weave]

That's kind of what I figured but I was hoping for another answer. I'm going to need to come up with an excuse as to why the door is gone lol. Wife going to get suspicious on this one.

[Brill Weave]

Some admin lock this. Got the answer I needed.

[Brill Weave]

This is what the end product will look like hopefully. Minus the mail slot and locks.

[BaneTheBrawler]

come up with another painting project, tell her you got paint all over the door and wrecked it. closer to the truth you get, the more believable it will be.

edit: also, mail slot and locks arent too hard to add, especially if the locks dont need to be functional. if you have the time, i say go for em.

[Tajin]

Couls have just ordered a giant sticker for the door if you want it to be temporary. Same look, less hassle.

[Headspace]

Just bought a house and already trying to ruin it

[Qeomash]

Is the sun room bigger on the inside?

[Brill Weave]

Just bought a house and already trying to ruin it

Shut up you!

Is the sun room bigger on the inside?

Absolutely

[isladar]

edit: also, mail slot and locks arent too hard to add, especially if the locks dont need to be functional. if you have the time, i say go for em.

Definitely this. It's a small amount of effort to push the project over from 'cute' to 'YOU WILL NEVER BELIEVE WHAT HUBBY DID HE IS AMAZING'. Also, always strip and sand before painting, you'll be so sad if you don't.

[Brill Weave]

The lock I have no problem adding on. But I want to try to get it as close to the "real thing" as possible. Hence no mail slot. I need to use a small lathe or wood chisel in order to make the panel borders up the entire door. So it's definitely not going to be just a one day project. First up is to get it off the hinges and sanded down.

[Rakiel]

We definitely need an Uncle Brill Weave story about this when you're done.

[BaneTheBrawler]

Oh, I guess I don't know enough about the Tardis, as I thought the mail slot was supposed to be there.

We definitely need an Uncle Brill Weave story about this when you're done.

Seconded.

[Brill Weave]

It has been some time since I posted any stories.

[Lyrai]

Definitely go for a realistic excuse, but maybe not something directly about the door? How about fixing up the door frame or "weatherproofing."

[Salodin]

It has been some time since I posted any stories.

You always say this, and then never deliver.

[Jaybar]

Tell her that the door needed to be re-planed because you noticed it sticking to the frame whenever you closed it. That can be excused as a long and arduous project.

Most of the actual prep work that I'd recommend has already been mentioned. Good luck, it sounds like an awesome gift if done right!

[Aidin]

I need to use a small lathe or wood chisel in order to make the panel borders up the entire door.

Make sure it is a true solid wood door before you try this, as a lot of newer "solid" wood doors are actually a thin veneer over particle board centers.

[BaneTheBrawler]

i hate particle board so much. if a rain cloud floats peacefully within 50 miles of a piece of particle board, it warps, collects all the mold spores it can find, and then collapses into damp moldy dust.